10 smartphone photography accessories: Take your photos to the next level!

Many of today’s smartphone users utilize their phones as their primary cameras. If you are to replace your traditional camera with a phone, adding some smartphone photography accessories to your repertoire is recommended. These can help you achieve much better results and improve your experience. Even a cheap device can produce excellent photos with some help. Here are the best smartphone photography accessories we recommend investing in.

Which smartphone photography accessories do you actually need?

As it goes with anything, picking the best smartphone photography accessories will depend on your specific needs. If you’re commonly shooting long-exposure images in the dark, you might want to invest in a nice tripod or an LED light panel. Those who need more lens versatility can look for the right external lenses for smartphones. Shooting video smoothly can be hard on smartphones, so grabbing a smartphone gimbal might be a good investment, even for professionals.

Some extras might also make shooting a much better experience. Those shooting outdoors in dusty areas will find a good microfiber cloth one of the best investments. Selfie lovers will also treasure a remote shutter. A portable battery pack will be a lifesaver if your phone is always dying because of so much shooting.

We’ve put together this list based on quality, but also value. We’re trying to get you the best products, built nicely, and offering a superior photography experience. We also don’t want you to overpay when unnecessary, though.

The best smartphone photography accessories

Editor’s note: We will regularly update this list of the best smartphone photography accessories as new products launch.

Small tripod

A tripod is one of the first smartphone photography accessories you buy when you get into this art. It is a simple tool that doesn’t need to cost much but will offer many shooting benefits. And since smartphone photography is all about mobility, you want your tripod to be small and convenient to carry.

A tripod can be used for long-exposure photography when the shutter speed is slowed down. This technique can create light trails, smooth out fluids, and better expose images without increasing the ISO (which affects photo quality). Using a tripod can also reduce motion blur or shaky videos. It helps to have the camera static when learning composition, giving you more time and freedom to frame a scene properly.

The Manfrotto Pixi Evo is one of our favorites. It has a small, foldable design and nice build quality. Photo enthusiasts will surely recognize the brand, and know it’s dedicated to making quality photography products.

I am a fan of large, sturdy tripods because I also use them for my heavy DSLR and mirrorless cameras. This is why we like the JOBY GorillaPod 3K, which is a hybrid with excellent portability, stability, and sturdiness. It can be used for smartphones and much heavier cameras as heavy as three kilos.

You can also save some money with the JOBY GorillaPod 1K if you’re happy with a one-kilogram capacity. If all you care for is smartphone support, we like the GripTight PRO 3 GorillaPod.

Octopus tripods get their nickname from their flexible legs. They can be folded and adjusted in multiple ways and can be used to wrap around objects. If you want more options, we also have a complete list of the best tripods.

Microfiber cleaning cloth

These are cheap and useful smartphone photography accessories. Smartphones get dirty and oily, including the camera glass. This results in blurry or smudgy photos, so make sure to keep the lens glass clean with a microfiber cleaning cloth — using your shirt isn’t a good idea. We like this Nikon one because it comes in a little bag that’s easy to carry and attach to other items, such as backpacks. It’s also from a renowned brand and pretty affordable.

Remote shutter control

Save for a few exceptions, a smartphone’s rear camera is significantly better than the one in the front. Taking a selfie with the rear shooter is no easy feat. And it’s no fun having to rush for a timer. You can get yourself a remote shutter control to avoid the hassles and get the best selfie your phone can produce. These work via Bluetooth, allowing the user to trigger the shutter from a distance.

Remote shutter controls also happen to be pretty cheap. A good one is the Xenvo Shutterbug. It works via Bluetooth with both Android and iOS devices. The 30ft range is extensive, and battery life is very generous. Not to mention, it looks great and comes with a lifetime warranty.

Smartphone lenses

Clip-on lenses come in handy when your smartphone’s built-in glass is too limited. These smartphone photography accessories offer higher focal lengths, zoom capabilities, macro focusing distance, fisheye effects, and wide-angle perspectives.

Smartphones are becoming more versatile thanks to the implementation of multiple cameras and lenses. While these help, they don’t come close to what you can do with these larger external lenses. Not to mention, these lenses can usually be attached to a wide variety of devices, giving you more freedom of choice when it comes to smartphones. You can take these with you when you change devices.

There are many lenses for smartphones, but our favorites come from Moment. Check them out by hitting the button below. If you want more options, make sure to look into our list of the best smartphone camera lenses.

Portable LED panel

Photography is all about light, and having some extra help in dark environments will allow you to get better results. LED panels have gotten smaller and more affordable. The one shown above is the Viltrox LED Lighting Kit, which features a 3,000mAh rechargeable battery, temperature calibration, and dimming support. You also get a mini tripod and a smartphone holder for convenience.

If you want to go all out and buy a great portable light, the ZHIYUN FIVERAY M40 is easily one of the best of its kind. It has a $99 MSRP, but it has excellent features and a gorgeous design.

The unit features 176 LED lights that provide 14,000 lux of brightness. You can control the light temperature and intensity using the two knobs. It even has integrated cooling to allow for longer periods of operation. As if that wasn’t enough, the light can also be used as a portable battery. And a very capable, at that; it can charge at 55W!

Portable battery pack

If you shoot photos and videos throughout the day, your phone will quickly run out of battery. You don’t want a dead phone when a photo opportunity presents itself. Getting a portable power bank to keep your phone juiced up is a good idea. We have a list of our favorite portable battery packs, but if you want a recommendation, here it is.

We like the Samsung Super Fast 25W Portable Wireless Charger. Its 10,000mAh battery isn’t massive, but it’s good enough to charge your phone a couple or few times. What makes it a more exciting option is its 7.5W wireless charging support. And it can charge at up to 25W wired, too.

There’s another one we think is worth a mention. The Anker 733 Power Bank looks like a regular charger at first glance, but it comes with a 10,000mAh battery. It can charge up to three devices at up to 65W, using a couple of USB-C ports and a USB-A port. This means you can use it to charge your phone, as well as any other accessories you may have, such as LED lights.

Smartphone microphone

Audio is one area where smartphones usually lack quality, and it is crucial for recording video. Improve your clips by using an external microphone. A good one is the RØDE VideoMic Me. This directional microphone will be great for recording your voice, or you can turn it around to get better audio of whatever you’re shooting. It can be attached to your phone’s 3.5mm headset jack. If your phone lacks a headset jack, there’s also a USB-C version available, as well as a Lightning one.

Camera rig

Camera rigs are for serious content creators. These contraptions make it possible to mount your smartphone, lights, microphones, battery packs, and other smartphone photography accessories. We also have a list of the best smartphone grips and rigs, just in case you want to see more options.

The Beastgrip Pro is our favorite one because of its versatility. Its expanding body makes it possible to fit most devices, and the camera lens housing can be moved around to adapt to different lens placements. You’ll also get a cold shoe mount and a variety of threaded mounts for added accessories.

Smartphone gimbal

Image stabilization has come a long way, but an advanced gimbal can further improve your videos. These smartphone photography accessories use motors to stabilize a smartphone over three axes. It will reduce shaking and create smooth movements.

Again, there are plenty of options available, but we like the ZHIYUN Smooth 4. It offers an outstanding balance between price and functionality. Users will love the level of control available from the built-in buttons and knobs. Not to mention, it’s one of the most popular stabilizer brands in the industry.

This model has a couple of successors, but we believe they’re over-priced and don’t offer much more to sweeten the deal. You can check out our review of the ZHIYUN Smooth 5 if you want a newer product, though.

Mobile photo printer

There’s nothing like seeing your digital photographs turn to life by printing them out. If you want to go all out with mobile photography, you’ll need a portable photo printer. The Fujifilm Instax Link Wide is one of our favorites.

It can print 10.6 x 8.4 cm photos and connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth. The wider ratio makes it better for smartphone photographs, which never really adopt the square image format. The only downside is that you have to buy a special film for it.

Here’s something a bit more interesting. Why get just a photo printer? If you’ve been looking for an excuse to get one of those cool instant cameras, the Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo actually doubles as a photo printer. You can get your smartphone images and turn them into physical photos. Not to mention, you can use it as an actual camera, and it happens to look awesome.

These smartphone photography accessories are sure to take your images to another level. Remember, buying a camera is only the first step in the photography money pit. If you want to take your images to the next level, you should also take a look at our lists of the best camera phones and photography tips.